Property owners have a responsibility to ensure the safety of any guests and employees who have a legal right to be on their properties. This is the basis of premises liability laws. Under these laws, California property owners (as well as representatives of ownership, such as employees and managers) must monitor for signs of hazards on their properties which have the potential to cause accidents.
They must address these hazards in a timely manner when they find them. If a hazard can’t be eliminated entirely, guests must be alerted to its presence.
Slip and falls and similar accidents can occur when property owners negligently overlook hazards or don’t take steps to guard against them. Perhaps you’ve been injured in such an accident on someone else’s property in the Santa Monica area because ownership was careless.
Review your case with a Santa Monica premises liability and slip and fall attorney at Randolph and Associates if so. We may be able to help you recover financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses you might have incurred as a result of your accident.
Slip and falls and other such premises liability accidents can occur for a variety of reasons.
Common examples include:
If you’ve been injured on someone’s property but you’re not certain whether you have grounds to seek compensation, schedule a case evaluation at our Santa Monica premises liability and slip and fall law firm. We’ll explain how you may proceed.
The specific steps you should take if you’ve been injured on someone else’s property can vary depending on such factors as:
That said, the following steps generally apply when a victim has been involved in a slip and fall. They frequently also apply when a victim’s been injured in a similar type of accident on a property other than their own.
In the immediate aftermath of your accident, you should:
Take a moment to determine the extent of your injuries. If you’ve sustained any injuries that require immediate attention, such as wounds which need to be dressed, tend to them right away. When you begin moving from the scene of your accident, do so slowly to avoid exacerbating your injuries.
Ask any witnesses at the scene if they’d be willing to remain there for a few moments. You need to contact the property owner first, but after doing so, you’ll want to coordinate with those who saw your accident happen.
Ask an employee or other such party to direct you to the property owner or manager so you can file an official report. When doing so, avoid making any statements that might indicate your own negligence played a role in your accident happening.
You should also refrain from allowing your emotions to dictate your behavior. While you may be angry because your accident clearly resulted from blatant negligence, it’s in your best interests to maintain your composure at this time.
When reporting your accident, request that the property owner not destroy any footage of the accident that may have been recorded via security cameras. Ask if you can make this request in writing so there’s documentation of it.
Next, gather the names and contact information of any witnesses who’ve agreed to remain at the scene of the accident. Take this opportunity to photograph the accident scene from various angles as well. Your goal is to capture photographic evidence showing your accident occurred because of hazardous conditions.
This is critical. Be aware, you might have sustained injuries without realizing it. Perhaps the adrenaline surge you experienced as a result of being involved in an accident has prevented you from noticing the symptoms of your injuries. Or, maybe you’ve sustained a concussion or similar injury, symptoms of which might not be noticeable until hours or even days after your accident.
Err on the side of caution and confirm with a medical professional that no treatment is necessary. Along with providing for a swift recovery, seeing a doctor sooner rather than later will improve your chances of recovering financial compensation later, as it will allow you to establish a link between your accident and your injuries.
The injuries you might sustain in a slip and fall or similar accident resulting from a property owner’s negligence can require costly medical treatment. You might struggle to pay for your medical care if your injuries prevent you from working and earning an income until you make a full recovery. Depending on their severity, they can also cause you to endure long-term pain and suffering.
You can seek compensation for such losses by filing a premises liability claim with the negligent property owner’s insurance. To optimize your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve, strongly consider hiring a lawyer.
An insurance company isn’t likely to offer the full amount of compensation you’re owed. An insurer’s goal is to protect their bottom line by offering less compensation than your claim may be worth.
A Santa Monica premises liability and slip and fall attorney with Randolph and Associates can help you pursue fair compensation by:
You shouldn’t absorb the cost of your losses if you were injured on someone else’s property because they were negligent. To learn more about what our team can do for you, contact us
online or call us at 310-395-7900 for a free consultation.
